Continuous and endless passenger transport system



United States Patent [72] Inventors Gabriel Bouladon Geneva, Switzerland; Paul Zuppiger, Geneva, Switzerland [211 App]. No. 727,391 [22] Filed May 8, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 8, 1970 [73] Assignee The Battelle Development Corporation Columbus, Ohio a corporation of Delaware [32] Priority May 10, 1967 [3 3] Switzerland [31] No. 6625/67 [54] CONTINUOUS AND ENDLESS PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEM 15 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figs.

521 user 104/25 51 lnt.Cl A63gl/00 [50] Field of Search 104/25, l18,167',105/8 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,236,191 2/1966 Bouladon et a1 104/25 3,400,665 9/1968 Bouladon et a1. 104/25 Primary Examiner--George T. Hall Al!0rney-Gray, Mase and Dunson ABSTRACT: System in which transport units are moved along at least one closed loop guide means with a speed varying between a low value during the journey portions inside the stations, where these units are in a close formation, each contacting the other end to end, and a high value during the journey portions outside the stations, where these units are in spaced relationship. Embodiment of the stations, of the transport units, which open and close automatically in these stations, and of the drive means that move the units.

Patented Sept. 8, 1970 I of5 Sheet FIG. 1A

FIG. 1B

Patented Sept. 8, 1970 Sheet L of 5 m 6t 7 w mm \m mm NW QN m b mm m 4.. gQ

on R km Sheet ;L of 5 Patented Sept. 8, 1979 Patgnted Sept. 8, 1970 Sheet 1 01'5 Patented Sept. 8, 1970 Sheet Ctltll'llhlllflllhi AND ENDLESS PASSENGER TRANSPORT SYSTEM This invention provides a continuous and endless passenger transport system for interconnecting in both directions at least three boarding/alighting stations.

An installation of this kind is useful when it is required to cater at high speed for passenger traffic between stations which may each, for a given passenger, serve indifferently as a departure station or as an arrival station without requiring the passenger to select the station of his destination before boarding: once on, the passenger can reach any station after having possibly passed through stations located between his departure station and that of his destination.

The system provided by the invention comprises at least one set of transport units capable of moving along closed loop guide means which comprise two tracks, one being travelled along in one direction and the other being travelled along in the opposite direction, each track passing through each of these stations once, drive means capable of moving said transport units along said guide means while imparting thereto a speed that varies between a low value, during the journey portions inside the stations, with the units travelling along these portions in close formations within which they are in end to end contacting relationship, and a high value, during the journey portions outside the stations, with the units travelling along these portions in open formations within which they are in spaced relationship, and which comprises in each station, two platforms, one for each track, each provided with a platform gear enabling passengers to board, or to alight from, said units.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, one embodiment of the transport system according to the invention.

FIG. II is a diagrammatic plan view of the transport system.

lFlG. llAi diagrammatically illustrates another arrangement for the transport system.

FIG. lB illustrates the relative arrangement of certain com ponents of the system.

FIG. I! is a longitudinal and horizontal section of a portion ofthe systern.

FlG. El is an elevational view of this same portion.

FIG. d is a cross-section of the transport system along line ll/IV oflFIG. 2.

FIGS. 5, b and 7 relate to a common portion of FIG. 4 and show different stages ofits motion.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of a component of the transport system.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the system.

FIG. l diagrammatically illustrates the transport system which is intended to interconnect stations In 1g, which are all alike. This system comprises a track 2 which is travelled along by transport units forming a first set travelling clockwise and a track El travelled along by transport units forming a second set travelling anti-clockwise, these two tracks being arranged in parallel relationship. These two tracks form a closed loop guide system, and a drive system is provided for each of them. This drive system, which will be described later, is adapted to impart a slow speed to the transport units when moving in a station, for instance, in the case of installation 2, along the section BC located in station 10, a high speed when moving between the stations, for instance along section DE lying between station 1c and lb, and a varying speed, which progressively increases from said low speed to said high speed, along the sections located at the exit of the stations, for instance section CD in the case of station 10, and a varying speed, which progressively decreases from said high speed to said low speed, along the sections located at the entrance of the stations, for instance section EF in the case of stations 1b. Along the low speed sections, the transport units move in close formation, in contacting relationship with one another, whereas along the high speed sections, the units travel in open formation, the speed variations causing them progressively to pass from one formation to the other.

In some cases, in particular when the various stations are arranged in a substantially straight line arrangement as is apparent from FIG. 1A, it is preferred to connect one of these tracks to the other by terminal loops, loop 4 connecting track 2 to track 3 and loop 5 connecting track 3 to track 2; there is then a single set of transport units which alone performs the transport operations in both directions.

The change in formation is clearly apparent from FIG. 1B which shows a certain number of transport units 211 2k, travelling along track 2 from left to right and passing through station 10, and a certain number oftransport units 3:! 3k, travelling along track 3 from right to left and passing through this same station 1c.

The transport units are all identical and consist, as is apparent from FIG. 4 as regards unit 15, of a floor 6, a ceiling 7, a fixed longitudinal wall 8, an openable longitudinal wall 9 and two fixed transverse walls of which only transverse wall 10 is visible. The floor 6, the fixed longitudinal wall 8 and the ceiling 7 form a structure of C-shaped cross-section which is suspended by a system of rollers 11 cooperating with an aerial rail 12 constituting the guide means, with rollers 13, mounted at the level of floor 6, acting as supports to prevent tilting.

The openable walls of the transport units belonging to one of the transport installations are all located on the same side, as is apparent from FIG. 2; the fixed walls ofthe units of one of the installations face the fixed longitudinal walls ofthe units of the other installation, as is apparent with unit 15 whose fixed longitudinal wall 8 faces the fixed longitudinal wall 16 of unit 17 belonging to the other installation.

The openable longitudinal wall 9 is made up of two panels i.e. a lower panel 9a and an upper panel 9b which are capable of rocking about hinges 14a and 14b respectively (FIG. 5). Once the longitudinal wall has been opened Le. once the two panels have been moved to a horizontal position, access to the transport unit can be had from the side as is apparent from FIG. 6.

The transverse walls, eg. wall 10 (FIGS. 4 to 6), are provided with a movable panel 18 which pivots about a pin 19 located in the upper corner of these walls, which upper corner is located near the openable longitudinal wall. FIG. 4 shows this movable side panel 13 in its closed position, whereas FIGS. 5 to 7 show it in its open position.

The stations each comprise two sets of platform gears, one set being associated with one of the transport installations and the other set with the other transport installation. Each platform gear comprises means, which will be described below and which are capable of causing the transport units to open upon entering the station and to close upon leaving the station. This opening operation is achieved by progressively rocking the panels 9a, 9b about their hinges 14a, 14b, and by pivoting the movable side panel 18 (FIG. 5). Each platform gear also comprises a running alighting handrail 20 which is associated with a casing 25 and which follows a path that moves away from that of the transport units (FIG. 2), and a running boarding handrail 21, which is associated with a casing 33 and which follows a path which moves towards that of the transport units. Intermediate these handrails is provided a fixed projecting stage 22 located between the platform 23 per se and the transport units (FIG. 6). This stage is at a level very slightly higher than that of the floors 6 of the transport units travelling past it.

The alighting handrail 20 extends out from the platform 23 until it overlies, slightly inside the transport units in relation to the openable walls, the edges of the floors and extends inside the units through the openings 24 cleared by the side panels 18. The upstream end of its casing 25 comprises a vertical comb 26 whose teeth cooperate with grooves 27 formed in panels 9a (FIGS. 4 and 5). This comb, which is similar to the combs provided at the step-on and step-off ends of ordinary escalators, serves to provide continuity between the surfaces of the panels 9a and the casing 25. The panels 9a, once they are in a horizontal position, pass beneath the stationary stage 22 which is provided, at its alighting end, with a horizontal comb 28 which also cooperates with the grooves 27 and which provides continuity between the surfaces of these panels and that of the stationary stage.

The boarding handrail 21 is similarly formed. The other end of stage 22, [.e. its boarding end, is provided with a horizontal comb 29 which cooperates with the grooves 27. Means, which will be described later, cause the front panels 9a to close and the side panels 18 to return to their normal position upon the units leaving the station, such closure being completed when the units pass the end 30 of the boarding handrail 21.

For safety reasons, a protection wall 31, which extends over almost the entire height of the transport units (FIG. 6), is provided on the outside of the handrail 21. This wall may for instance be made of plate glass or steel sheeting. Its function is to prevent passengers having their fingers pinched between the panels 9a and 9b when the latter are closing (FIG. 7).

The transport units are finally provided with longitudinally extending seats 32 (FIG. 4) enabling the passengers to travel seated.

FIG. 8 shows on a larger scale a transport unit and the means actuating the various movable parts it comprises. This transport unit is shown in cross-section, in a position similar to that of unit in FIG. 4.

a. Means for actuating the openable longitudinal wall. The lower panel 9a is rigid with an arm 35 which is horizontally positioned when this panel is in closed position and which is provided at its end with a roller 36 cooperating with a guide 37. This guide 37 has a curvilinear outline such that, as the unit progresses towards the platform after having taken its place within the close formation in which it progresses in a station, it compels the arm 35 gradually to pass into the vertical position 35a indicated in dashed lines. This change in position of the arm 35 causes the lower panel to rock outwardly to bring it to the horizontal position 38a indicated in dashed lines. The outline of guide 37 is so chosen as to cause this movement to begin as soon as the trailing end of panel 9a has moved past the comb 26 secured to the upstream end of the casing of the alighting handrail 20, and to be completed when the leading end of this panel reaches point K (FIG. 2) where the path followed by the alighting handrail curves away from the path followed by the transport unit; this shape is moreover so chosen that arm is kept in a vertical position until the trailing end of the lowered, panel moves past point L where the path of travel of the boarding handrail 21 curves into parallel relationship with the path of travel of the transport units, and so that arm 35 may gradually be returned from the vertical position 35a to its horizontal position 35 as the unit progresses towards the station exit, this movement being completed when the leading end of panel 9a moves past the end 30 of the boarding handrail 21.

The upper panel 912 is similarly equipped: it carries an arm 39 (FIG. 8) which is provided with a roller 40 cooperating with a guide 41. This guide has a curvilinear shape which is similar to that of guide 37, but which is symmetrical in relation to the latter: it causes the arm 39, as the unit progresses from comb 26 up to point K (FIG. 2), to pass gradually from its horizontal position to the vertical position 39a indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 8, and, after having travelled from K to L (FIG. 2) in a vertical position, then to return gradually from this vertical position 39a to the horizontal position, which position must be reached by the time the unit moves past the end 30 ofthe boarding handrail 21. This movement ofthe arm 39 successively causes outward rocking of the panel 9b, immobilisation thereof in the horizontal position 3812 indicated in dashed lines, and the return thereof to the vertical position, Le. to the closed position.

b. Means for actuating the side panels of the transverse walls. Each side panel 18 is provided at its lower corner, on the platform side, with an arm which extends through a slot 46 formed in the floor 6 and which carries at its end a roller 47. These rollers successively cooperate with a fixed guide 48 having an outline such as to cause each side panel 18 to pivot about its pivot 19 and to take up the position 18a indicated in dashed lines, in which position the opening 24 in the corresponding transverse wall 10 is cleared. This movement must be completed when this transverse wall reaches the upstream end of the alighting handrail 20 (FIG. 2). The outline of the guide 48 is moreover so chosen that each side panel 18 is kept in position 18a until the transverse wall 10 passes the end 30 of the boarding handrail 21, and that this side panel is returned to its closed position before the unit leaves the close formation in which it progresses through a station.

The side panel 18 moreover carries a locking hook 49 having a spring 50. This hook engages in a recess 51 provided for this purpose in the lower front panel 9a of the openable longitudinal wall 9, thereby to lock together the openable wall and the side panel, when closed, the flange 52 of the lower front panel 9a preventing the upper front panel 9b from being raised inadvertently. For unlocking purposes, there is provided a pusher member 53 which slides inside the lower front panel 9a and which projects below the floor 6, in the plane of the slot 46. This pusher member 53 is actuated by a cam, not shown, mounted on the guide 48 at a position such that the release of the book 49 will occur before the opening action of the side panel 18 is initiated.

It will be clear that constructional variants for the side panel 18 can be conceived. For instance, instead of resorting to a pivoting side panel, use can be made of a sliding side panel having a width equal to half that of the transverse wall 10: this variant has the advantage of enabling passengers to pass from one unit to the other, a feature which may in some cases help to quicken alighting or boarding. This variant is not shown, since, like others for that matter, it is within the scope of the man ofthe art.

c. Variable speed drive means. FIG. 8 also shows, in conjunction with FIG. 9, the drive means. These comprise propul sion means which are arranged at spaced intervals between the stations and which impart to the transport units progressing in open formation said high speed, and tie members of variable length capable of reducing to zero the distance between units, whereby the latter may pass from the open formation to the close formation, and, conversely, of allowing this distance to increase to cause the units to pass from the close formation to the open formation.

Each propulsion means consists of a motor (FIG. 8) whose rotor drives a driving roller 61 and whose stator has secured thereto a flange 62 carrying a freely rotatable counter-roller 63. The stator is carried by an aerial rail 12 by a support 64 enabling the stator to rotate. Each unit carries a drive blade 65 which is pinched between the drive roller 61 and the counter-roller 63. With this arrangement, the greater the driving force applied by the rotor of motor 60, the more strongly does the blade 65 become clamped between the rollers 61 and 63, the reaction of the motor stator being directly dependent on the magnitude of the force. The units are thus successively driven by the motors distributed along the high speed sections. The variable length tie members consist (FIG. 9) of cables connecting one unit to its neighbouring unit: thus cable 67 connects together units 55 and 56, and cable 69 connects together units 57 and 58. One of the ends of this cable is tied to one of the units whereas the other end is tied to the other unit after passing over a pulley system made up of a group of fixed pulleys and a group of sliding pulleys. Thus, cable 67 is tiiad at 70 to unit 56 and, in the region of the group of fixed pulleys 71, to the units 55. The group of fixed pulleys 71 is mounted on a stationary shaft 72 (FIG. 8) secured to the fixed longitudinal wall 8 of unit 55 whereas the group of mobile pulleys 73 is mounted on a mobile shaft 74 capable of sliding in a vertical slideway 75 (FIG. 9) formed in this same fixed longitudinal wall. The mobile shaft 74 carries a cam roller 76 which cooperates with a guide 77 which is so shaped as to vary the spacing between the groups of pulleys: when this spacing is minimal, as shown for unit 58, the distance between adjacent units is maximal and the latter are in open formation. When the spacing between the groups of pulleys is maximal, as shown for units 54 and 55, the distance between adjacent units is nil and the latter are in close formation. The guide 77 is in contact with the cam rollers during the entire course of travel between two high speed sections. i.e. for as long as lasts the passage from the open formation to the close formation, before entering a station, the crossing of this station and the return from the close formation to the open formation as soon as the units leave this station.

The transport system operates as follows: passengers enter into the transport units from a platform by stepping across the fixed stage. This does not give rise to any difficulty since the units move at low speed in the stations; boarding is just like stepping onto an ordinary escalator. The units close again. accelerate while moving apart from one another, travel along the section at high speed until the next station, slow down while moving closer to one another and open upon reaching the platform; as they pass before the associated stationary stage, the passengers are free to leave them or to stay inside. The sequence is repeated and it will be observed that at whatever station he has boarded. a passenger is quite free to choose his destination while actually travelling. If he wishes to reach a distant station, he will pass through the intermediate stations and undergo successive accelerations and decelerations. It is in order to save a passenger having to travel along the entire closed circuit to return from a station to the preceding one, that the two installations 2 and 3 (FIG. 1) travelling side by side in opposite directions have been provided.

In order to reduce the distances required to open or close the transport units, it is advantageous to divide the panels 9a and 9b into two halves widthwise. This is what is shown in FIG. 2 with respect to unit 35 whose halfpanel 9a is in the process ofroclting whereas the half-panel 9a is already fully lowered.

H6. 3 shows the same operation as regards the semi-panel 9b, which is in the process of rocking whereas the semi-panel 9b: is already fully opened.

We claim:

1. A continuous and endless passenger transport system for inter-connecting in both directions at least three boardlug/alighting stations, which comprises at least one set of transport units capable of moving along closed loop guide means which comprise two tracks, one being travelled along in one direction and the other being travelled along in the opposite direction, each track passing through each of these stations once, which comprises drive means capable of moving said transport units along said guide means while imparting thereto a speed that varies between a low value, during the journey portions inside the stations, with the units travelling along these portions in close formations within which they are in end to end contacting relationship, and a high value. during the journey portions outside the stations, with the units travelling along these portions in open formations within which they are in spaced relationship, and which comprises in each station, two platforms, one for each track. each provided with platform gear enabling passengers to board, or to alight from, said units.

2. A transport system according to claim 1, comprising one set of transport units, the two tracks of said guide means being connected to one another by loops, one at each end of said guide means, whereby said set of units provides for transport in both directions.

3. A transport system according to claim 1, comprising two sets of transport units, each of the two tracks of said guide means being closed upon itself, whereby the units of one set provide for transport in one direction and the units of the other set provide for transport in the other direction.

4. A transport system according to claim 1. wherein each of said transport units consists of a closed cabin comprising a floor, a ceiling, two longitudinal walls and two transverse walls, one of these longitudinal walls being openable and the openable walls of all units ofa set being disposed on the same side, wherein all of the platforms associated with one track are disposed, in relation to the units travelling along this track, on the side of the openable walls, and wherein each platform installation comprises a landing stage which projects out from the platform up to the edge of the floors of the units travelling past it and control means able to open the openable longitudinal wall of every unit entering the station. and to close the longitudinal wall of every unit leaving the station, said landing stage and said openable longitudinal wall enabling passengers to take place in, and to leave, said units.

5. A transport unit according to claim 4, wherein said openable wall comprises two parts. a lower part which is capable of being moved downwardly and outwardly to come to be positioned in the plane of the floor to form an extension thereof, and an upper part which is capable of being moved upwardly and outwardly, and wherein said landing stage is located at a level such as to enable the lower part, once lowered, to pass flush therebeneath so as to provide continuity between said floor extension and said landing stage.

6. A transport system according to claim 4, wherein the two transverse walls of each unit comprise each a mobile side panel which, when open, provides in the corresponding transverse wall, on the side of the openable longitudinal wall, an opening which establishes communication between this unit and that adjacent thereto, and which, when closed. shuts off this unit. wherein each platform installation comprises two running handrails of which one, intended for alighting passengers, projects from the platform in an upstream direction, and of which the other. intended for boarding passengers. projects from the platform in a downstream direction, each of said han' drails having a speed equal to that of the transport units passing through the station and comprising two rectilinear portions, a first portion which is parallel to the longitudinal side of said close formation and which extends into the transport units through said openings, and a second portion which is oblique and which is located between said first portion and the platform. and wherein said control means are adapted to open the side panels of each unit entering a station and to close the side panels of each unit leaving the station.

7. A transport system according to claim 6. wherein said lower part of the openable longitudinal wall is provided with longitudinally extending grooves and wherein the internal casing of at least said alighting handrail comprises a vertical comb whose teeth, which are disposed horizontally, cooperate with the grooves of said lower part.

8. A transport system according to claim 6, wherein the upstream edge of said landing stage is at right angles to the path of the alighting handrail and wherein the downstream edge of said landing stage is at right angles to the path of the boarding handrail.

9. A transport system according to claim 8. wherein the said edges of the landing stage are each provided with a comb whose teeth cooperate with said grooves in the lower part once the latter has been lowered.

10. A transport system according to claim 6, wherein said side panel is a pivotal side panel mounted on a pin located in the upper corner of the transverse wall.

11. A transport system according to claim 6, wherein said side panel is a sliding side panel having an area substantially equal to half that of said transverse wall, so that said opening enables passengers to pass from one unit to those adjacent thereto.

12. A transport system according to claim 6, wherein each unit comprises at least one locking device able to keep said openable longitudinal wall and said side panels closed during the entire journey between the stations.

13. A transport system according to claim 12, wherein said control means are adapted, in succession, to open the locking device, to open the side panels, to open the two parts of the openable wall, to keep open each of these components for at least the whole of the time it takes a transport unit to travel past said landing stage, to close the two parts of the openable wall, to close the side panels and to close the locking system, these operations taking place while the transport units are travelling in close formation.

14. A transport system according to claim 6, wherein the casing of said boarding handrail is prolonged by a protection of said lower and upper parts of the openable wall of each transport unit consists of a pair of panels capable of being opened independently of one another, said control means being adapted to actuate each pair of panels successively. 

